Review: Act of Valor Friday, April 20, 2012 By Shane Africa - Advertising Starring real, active-duty United States Navy SEALs, the action thriller “Act of Valor” brings audiences into the lives of the covert and deadly men who protect America. The action flick makes use of live ammunition, military gadgets and tactics, and throws viewers into the chaotic fray as a team of SEALs goes on a dangerous mission that leads to a bigger, more threatening plot. Director Mike McCoy collaborated with real-life Navy SEALs to create this satisfyingly different and dramatic tale. The film is about Navy SEAL Team 7 as it takes on a mission to rescue a kidnapped and tortured CIA operative from a band of terrorists with a much larger motive.   The story has a good amount of emotion and drama, but the action and intensity really make this movie. Viewers are occasionally put in first-person view during mission scenes, implying that they are now one of the men on SEAL Team 7. The way the filmmakers implement this is brilliant, as it puts moviegoers literally behind an assault rifle aiming at the enemy, effectively making viewers feel like they are part of the mission. However, despite being an action-movie lover’s paradise, the acting and audio aren’t the best. There is not much of a score to set the expected “heroic” ambience. In addition, the main actors aren’t believable. Viewers are able to see right through the acting and understand that the characters aren’t played by trained actors, but by combat specialists.   All in all, “Act of Valor” is an intense, dramatic and satisfyingly violent film that blends a heartfelt story with automatic weapons. Although acting and audio are something to be improved, the action scenes and story cover up these flaws. “Act of Valor” is a worthwhile film that breaks certain limits that most movies wouldn’t dare to

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